NOTE: This information is from August 5, 2024. We try to update it when there are important changes but it could have changed because U.S. immigration laws change quickly. This information is educational and not legal advice

What is the CBP One App?

CBP One is a free phone app created by the U.S. government. People at the U.S.-Mexico border generally need to use the app to get an appointment to enter the U.S. at a port of entry. 

Most people need a CBP One appointment to ask to enter the U.S. at a port of entry on the US-Mexico border. There are only about 1,450 total appointments every day. Many people wait a long time to get an appointment and have to keep trying every day. 

CBP One appointments are free. Communications offering CBP One appointments that ask for money are likely fraud.

How to Use CBPOne

1. Download the CBP One app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
   
   

2. Open the app. Click LOG IN OR SIGN UP. You will be sent to another website called login.gov. Next, create an account or log in.
   
   

3. If you see a page called “Terms and Conditions” click “Accept” at the bottom.

4. If you have an account click “Sign in.” If you do NOT have an account click “Create an Account.”

5. In the “Who are You” section, click “Traveler.”

6. In “Select Travel Method” choose if you are traveling by land, air, or sea.

• Note: If you are in the center and north of Mexico and want to enter the U.S. by  land, like walking or driving, click “Traveler” and “Land.”

In the “Submit Advance Information” section if you are traveling by land and want to ask for an appointment at a port of entry, you have to complete these steps::

• Register all people traveling together - only people on a list of travelers can go to the appointment together;
• Select your language. The options are English, Spanish, or Haitian Creole.
• Next, the app will ask to access your location. Click “Accept.” You need to be in Mexico City and north or Guadalajara. Please note that on August 4, 2024 CBP announced that migrants will soon be able to also schedule appointments from the states of Tabasco and Chiapas. We do not know when this will happen but we will update this article when CBP announces a date.
• Ask for an appointment. You need to complete the registration and include all people traveling together before you ask for an appointment.
• You need to be offered an appointment. It is common to have no available appointments.
• Accept and schedule an appointment; and,
• Arrive at the port of entry at the correct appointment time.

Detailed instructions are available on this US government website. 

How Can You Ask for an Appointment?

A new process to ask for an appointment on the CBP One app started on May 10, 2023:

• You need to be in Mexico City or north to ask for and schedule an appointment.
• Every day, you can ask for an appointment from 10am MST/Ciudad Juarez time until 9:59pm MST/Ciudad Juarez
• You can not ask for an appointment from 9 a.m. - 10 a.m. MST/Ciudad Juarez time.
• If you receive an appointment, you will be notified via the CBP One app and email. 
• At 10 a.m. MST/Ciudad Juarez time each day, some appointments are given to people who asked for appointments the day before. But, most people who asked for an appointment the day before will not get one. You will get an email and pop-up message if you are given an appointment at a specific port of entry.
• You have 23 hours to accept the appointment. Click “Accept Appointment” in the app.
• If you need more time, you can ask for a 24-hour extension in the app to accept the appointment.
• After you accept the appointment, take a video selfie (or “Face Scan”). Then click “Schedule Appointment” in the app.
• After you confirm an appointment, you will see the confirmed appointment in the app.

Where are the appointments?

There are appointments at these Ports of Entry:

• Texas: Matamoros, Piedras Negras, Nuevo Laredo, Ciudad Juárez, Reynosa.Brownsville, Eagle Pass, Hidalgo, Laredo, and El Paso (Texas)
• Arizona: Nogales Nogales (Arizona)
• California: Mexicali, Tijuana Calexico and San Ysidro (California)

You can ask for an appointment in a different city. However, this can be difficult for the following reasons:

• Different Ports of Entry can be far away from each other. For example, Nogales/ Mariposa is more than 7 hours away by car from Ciudad Juarez. 
• You need valid documents to travel inside Mexico, which may make it hard to go to a different city. 
• Conditions in different Ports of Entry can be dangerous. Traveling there can be dangerous too. 

CBP One will send you an email when your appointment is confirmed. Try to print the email and take it to the appointment. If you can not print the email, you can show the appointment confirmation email or a picture of the email on your phone at the appointment.

Are People Having Trouble Using the App?

• Yes. People have many problems. For example, it is difficult to get your face scanned and take a picture (unfortunately, especially for people with darker skin). Also, the app crashes frequently, you need to change your password frequently, the app needs frequent updates, and it is difficult to upload files.
• Here are some solutions:
  • Use a phone that allows the app. (the app does not work on some older phones)
  • Use a strong wifi connection.
  • Update the app often (update before you start your registration)
• The app can be difficult to use. Also, there are not enough appointments for everyone that wants to enter the United States at the border.

Additional Resources:

CBP One User Guide - English (also available in Spanish and Haitian Creole)

CBP One Flyer - English (also available in Spanish and Haitian Creole)

CBP One™ Mobile Application. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)